Since all parties have generally converged on the interests of pacifying Japan, the cabinet ministers and generals basically reached an agreement at the first meeting, which can be said to be very rare.
Although there are pure idealists among them, they simply believe that the benefits of pacifying Japan outweigh the disadvantages for the Ming Dynasty, so they firmly support it.
But correspondingly, there are also many profit-seeking people. Typical examples are certain nobles.
Unlike ordinary civil servants, because they could legally do business, the nobles "responded to the imperial call" to invest in industry very early, and successively established a series of light industries represented by steam-powered textile mills.
The nobles can also be classified as landlords in nature, belonging to the feudal military noble landowners.
In that era when land was the most important, most value-preserving, and most reliable means of production, without long-term guidance or even interference from outside forces, ordinary people would undoubtedly choose to buy land among the two options of investing in business and investing in buying land.
Whether doing business or trading overseas, there are high risks, and you may lose all your money. In comparison, it is much safer to use all the same money to purchase farmland.
When faced with great changes that had not happened in a thousand years, the nobles gradually followed the policies of the reformists, or the New French Party, and reluctantly invested in those products that in their view "machines are much more expensive than human labor and are not cost-effective at all." industry.
What is completely in line with human nature is that most of their initial investments were in light industries with short construction cycles and quick money, such as textiles, hardware, paper, etc.; not many of them dared to invest in heavy industries. Uncle Xinjian was the first to invest in cement plants. Belongs to an alien species.
At that time, heavy industries such as arsenals, steel plants, chemical plants, and machinery processing plants were mostly established under the leadership of the imperial court and local governments. There were very few nobles and private merchants who took the initiative to establish heavy industries.
After the investment in light industry was repaid and a small profit was made, the nobles began to invest in heavy industry with long construction period and slow money.
To this day, many nobles of the Ming Dynasty have more or less various companies under their names.
Where did the military supplies needed for the war come from? It comes from all kinds of factories under the enterprise.
The steel needed to make guns, aircraft, tanks and cannons, the explosives needed to fill artillery shells and aircraft bombs, the brass needed to make bullets, the fuel to drive vehicles, the fabric needed to sew military uniforms...
Most of these, except for some government-owned enterprises owned by the imperial court, are privately owned.
So, who can resist the temptation to make a fortune in war?
The demand during a war is not comparable to that in peacetime. Orders of tens or hundreds of thousands can bring a company on the verge of bankruptcy back to life, and can also allow an unknown small factory to suddenly expand into a brilliant giant.
For those who have not personally experienced war, it seems to have become an excellent opportunity to reverse fate, but no one pays attention to the cruelty behind it.
In other words, the powerful people don't care, since they are not the ones who die anyway.
Zhou Changfeng, who returned to the Jiangxinzhou garrison, was welcomed by all the officers of the First Marine Regiment. Xie Wancheng, Zhu Lizhuo, Zhao Hanfeng and others carefully prepared a banquet to celebrate his return to his original post.
However, the peaceful life did not last long. At dusk the next day, he received a call from Zhu Lingjing, asking him to go to the old place on time tomorrow morning.
Why! I still have to face that woman after all!
The next day, Chenshi.
This year is not a warm winter, and the morning in Nanjing in mid-October is already obviously cool.
Outside the Weiyang Bank in Beicheng District, the streets on both sides were already covered with fallen leaves.
"Wait here for a moment."
"good."
So why are you looking for yourself this time? It's not just a routine meeting, right?
Just when Zhou Changfeng was distracted, an attendant walked into the room and called him to go.
Zhu Lingjing was dressed in light purple clothes and had cloud shoulders. She should have looked quite dignified, but the way she was eating melon seeds leisurely seemed to break this image.
"See Your Highness."
"How was your life in prison? Do you still remember the pain of dozens of sticks?"
Zhou Changfeng replied very calmly: "Uh... just so-so. I can't say it's good or bad. As for the fifty sticks, I still remember them for now."
"For now? Could it be that the scar is really healed and the pain is forgotten?" After hearing this, Zhu Lingjing was angry and funny, "I don't have the principle of doing things three times, only doing two things. If you dare to talk to yourself again, you will be in jail. I’ll let you live with it for the rest of your life.”
"clear."
"When do you plan to get married? Has the date been set?"
Aha? Does this change the subject a little too quickly?
Because it was so sudden, Zhou Changfeng thought he had heard wrongly.
Seeing that he was stunned, Zhu Lingjing urged: "I want to ask you what, why, it hasn't been finalized yet?"
"Uh... before the Spring Festival, but the specific date has not been determined."
"That's the end of January next year?"
"Maybe."
"Hurry up and set a date, and then inform the auditorium of the Consultative Council." Zhu Lingjing looked a little dissatisfied and said calmly: "This is my gift, how about it?"
The auditorium of the Consultative Council?
In Zhou Changfeng's impression, some ceremonial activities, such as celebrations and banquets, are usually organized for court officials; at the same time, after the two annual Consultative Council meetings, a press conference is held there to explain the key results of the meeting. .
As for the formal meeting, it is held in the Council Hall of the Consultative Yuan.
So Zhu Lingjing meant to have her wedding held in the auditorium of the Consultative Council? Hiss, am I mistaken? That is the exclusive place of the Ming Congress.
Just imagining that scene can make people's hearts swell, but correspondingly, isn't it a bit too exaggerated?
"Isn't this... a bit too flamboyant and high-profile?" He asked: "Is there any precedent before?"
"Of course there is no precedent." Zhu Lingjing asked with a sarcastic look on her face: "Isn't this an honor? Would someone like you worry about publicity? It's a bit funny."
"Your Highness, I actually want to be a low-key person." Zhou Changfeng replied seriously.
"Do you believe this?"
"..."
For Zhu Lingjing, in just one year, Zhou Changfeng has brought her considerable benefits.
Perhaps senior and rational scholars of the Ming Dynasty will rigorously and pragmatically explore the differences between Eastern and Western civilizations, but ordinary people and literati have always had a contemptuous attitude towards Westerners. In their view, Westerners are just a group of shallow and vulgar outbursts. Just a household.
Nowadays, when nationalism is prevalent, it is obvious that people like to see their own country's military officers killing all the people in distant places - teaching those guys to naturally stand on the moral high ground.
At the same time, considering that if this matter is investigated in depth, it will indeed have adverse effects, the propaganda department of the Ministry of War deliberately described Zhou Changfeng's motivation as "deeply indignant towards the Ming compatriots who were unfortunately killed in the rebellion, and hating the rebels who behaved recklessly", which was extremely It satisfies people's patriotism.
This is the impact on the public. As for the internal aspect, some of the information brought back by Zhou and the report based on his own practical experience are of great reference value.
As the saying goes, Zhu Lingjing also benefited from the glory.
In fact, it was only now that she was able to get her money back. Initially, she entrusted the navy to recruit people from the Forbidden Forces, as well as subsequent promotions, transfers, etc., which all consumed considerable political resources.
As for this ingenious "gift", she considered that Zhou seemed to lack something he loved, so she decided on such an idea that would definitely be memorable.
This is the first time that the Ming Dynasty held a wedding in the auditorium of the Consultative Council. How special is the significance?
In Zhou's heart, this kind of "gift" should be more precious than superficial things like real money, silver, rare treasures, right?
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Zhou Changfeng thanked him sincerely.
"Nothing." Zhu Lingjing replied nonchalantly, but as soon as she said the words, she regretted it a little. You must know that in order to accomplish this matter, she negotiated with the people in the Consultative Yuan for a long time, and it took a lot of effort. strength.
Oh damn it, this guy doesn’t really take it literally, does he? In that case, wouldn't it mean that he doesn't pay attention to it?
Just when she was struggling, Zhou Changfeng suddenly spoke after thinking about it.
"By the way, I want to invest in a small factory that makes guns, but it will be impeached. Your Highness, do you have any other options?"
After listening to Zhou Changfeng's explanation of his idea, Zhu Lingjing shook her head slightly and said, "I don't do this type of business in my house."
Princess Ningyou's mansion has only been established for ten years, which is incomparable to those nobles who have established industries for decades.
With little background and little family property, it is obvious that it cannot afford heavy industry, so the investments of the Princess Mansion are in light industry and service industries, such as clothing, accessories, and hotels.
She thought for a while and continued: "The laws of the country clearly prohibit officials and their immediate relatives from engaging in business. Don't you have a sister? Just ask their family to buy shares on their behalf. If you need it, just send a message."
Anyway, I don’t expect to make money to get rich, I just implement my own ideas, don’t worry about whether I trust it or not.
"Okay, it's time to get down to business."
"Um."
Zhu Lingjing sat up straight and said quite seriously: "In the past two days, there have been rumors that the 'Endeavour Society' and the 'Youth Yong Yue Society' are going to make a big move to attack and assassinate court officials and private businessmen."
Both are right-wing and ultra-right factions in the Ming Dynasty. They are medium-sized and tepid, but their behavior is very radical and high-profile. Especially the latter has organized two assassinations in the past seven years, resulting in many people with opposite political views. of officer casualties.
After being vigorously hunted and attacked, they have been dormant for several years and have kept a relatively low profile for the past three years.
Zhou Changfeng looked at Zhu Lingjing in front of him with an expression of "How do you know?" The latter said in a nonchalant manner: "One of the people was arrested for a drunken fight the day before yesterday. The Shanghai police did not know about it at first, but they questioned him in passing. After hearing the news, I was shocked and quickly reported it.”
"Interesting, they obviously want to expand their influence to promote their own ideas, and nothing is more eye-catching than the attacks and assassinations of high-ranking court officials and wealthy businessmen from large companies." Zhou Changfeng said, and then asked: " Your Highness, what do you want to explain?"
"Go back and do a thorough investigation. At least your subordinates can't cause chaos, do you understand?"
"Okay, I understand. But I feel that His Majesty and the Crown Prince do not reject these parties. This time..."
Zhu Lingjing, who looked calm, said "ha", "Allowing existence does not mean that you can tolerate disorderly behavior. Stability comes first."
Zhou Changfeng nodded to express understanding.
"In addition, you should also be more vigilant and prepared these days. Although we don't know yet how large the so-called attack will be, if there is a big chaos, we can take credit for putting it down."
"But... Your Highness, this is in the capital. It is taboo to go out without receiving orders, no matter what the motive is."
"I just asked you to be prepared." Zhu Lingjing was a little speechless. "As for how to deal with it when the time comes, it is natural to act according to the situation. If it is really necessary, don't miss it."
"Okay, I understand."
"That's it, go ahead."
"Farewell."
In this era when ▇▇▇ism is increasingly spreading, there are far-right factions in Britain, France, and the United States that are ready to move, and Ming Dynasty is no exception.
Zhou Changfeng has a certain understanding of the Endeavor Society and the Youth Yong Yue Society. Whether it is the former Third Guards Brigade or the current Marine Regiment, there are more or less people from these factions.
A few days later on October 19th.
The Cabinet and the Military Ministry plan to hold a second meeting at the Wenhua Hall to build on the previous initial meeting to discuss the impact and possible costs of the war.
And at this moment in Shanghai...
It was a rainy day with continuous drizzle. In the early morning, the sky and the earth were gray, and the chill was very obvious.
A black car produced by Junda Company slowly drove out of a luxurious mansion. When they reached the intersection, two other cars also started, one behind the other, protecting the black car in the middle.
The passenger on board was Chen Zhongxu, a director of the Su Rong Group and a well-known economist who advocated land reform and a moratorium on armament expansion.
Chen Zhongxu had heard a little bit about possible attacks recently, and the incidents in previous years were still vivid in his mind, so he was accompanied by at least eight guards every time he traveled in the past two days.
However, when the convoy was passing through an intersection, a trolley suddenly rushed out from the side of the street. The leading car immediately braked, and the two following cars had to slow down.
In the car in the middle, Chen Zhongxu, who was reading a newspaper, almost hit his head and said dissatisfied: "What's going on?"
At this moment, two pedestrians on the roadside suddenly got into trouble, took out their pistols, pointed at the black car he was sitting in, and fired repeatedly!
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen bullet holes appeared on the car; the guards in the two cars at the front and back immediately fired back. Some opened fire directly in the car, while others opened the door and got out of the car before pulling out their guns.
For a moment, the sound of "bang bang bang" gunfire filled the entire street.
Immediately afterwards, a bicycle came quickly from the right side of the intersection diagonally ahead. The rider took out a square box-like object from the front basket and threw it towards the car in the middle.
The close firefight was so intense that the guards' attention was completely attracted by the two attackers on the other side, so they did not notice the danger here in time.
"boom!"
The square box filled with half a kilogram of polynitrate explosive suddenly exploded. Fire and smoke instantly enveloped the entire vehicle, and debris was blown up all over the sky.
(End of chapter)
